Bulls Notebook: 4 Games, 5 Nights

Jameer Nelson of the Orlando Magic goes to the basket past Ronnie Brewer, Derrick Rose, Carlos Boozer and Joakim Noah of the Chicago Bulls during the NBA game on March 8, 2012 at the United Center in Chicago, Illinois. (Photo by Nathaniel S. Butler/NBAE via Getty Images)

By Nick Shepkowski-

(CBS) 4 Games in 5 Nights

The Bulls were behind from the get-go Thursday night, falling behind 8-0 just over a minute into the contest. Despite the game being the Bulls fourth in five nights, nobody was about to make an excuse for the short-comings.

“You’re forced with a challenge every night,” Tom Thibodeau stated. “They’ve been on the road, too. Everybody’s got something, we have to be ready to play.”

Joakim Noah wasn’t about to use it as an excuse but did note the exhaustion that’s catching up with the Bulls after their most recent contest.

“I think everyone was tired” Noah said, “But that is not an excuse.”

Injury Update:

The Bulls played again without Richard Hamilton and CJ Watson in Thursday night’s 96-91 loss to the Orlando Magic and although the no exact date was given as a possible return date, Tom Thibodeau didn’t sound good about Hamilton’s prognosis.

“Still a ways away” is how Thibodeau described Hamilton, who was seen Thursday night with a sling to help take the pressure off of his injured shoulder.

Watson missed his third straight game after spraining his ankle Sunday night in Philadelphia.

After shooting just 1 of 9 from the field on Thursday night and scoring only 5 points, Luol Deng’s wrist may be a little bit more beat up than some have led in the past few weeks.

“I’m going to talk with the medical staff and (Thibodeau,)” Deng said. “The last few games, the pain is kind of high again. I have to control it.”

Tiring of Trade Talk

Derrick Rose isn’t the kind of player that will publicly ask the front office to make a move and is obviously getting sick of being asked about trade rumors on a daily basis.

“Sick and tired of hearing it” Rose said of constant trade rumors before Thursday night’s home loss to the Orlando Magic.

When given the platform, the reigning MVP wasn’t about to make a recruiting pitch to Dwight Howard or any other potential trade acquisition.

“The city speaks for itself” Rose said in regards to the marketing that a player can benefit from while playing in Chicago.

A reporter then asked if he was “hoping the 15th comes really fast?”

“Yes, so I don’t have to talk about this anymore,” Rose added.

London 2012

Sure it’s only March but one thing Rose is looking forward to is this coming summer’s Olympic games in London.

“The experience is definitely going to be something I remember for the rest of my life,” Rose said, “with so many great talents that are out there in the NBA, I can only imagine how it’s going to be.”

Rose isn’t only excited to team up with the likes of LeBron James and Dwight Howard, but also to get to play against Luol Deng.

“He’s (Deng) has been talking trash to me so it’s gonna be fun seeing him over there playing him”

Rose went on to say that he has not yet talked to Joakim Noah about the games, in which Noah will play for France.

In addition to covering the Bulls for 670TheScore.com, Nick Shepkowski is the associate producer on The McNeil and Spiegel Show, weekdays 9am-1pm on 670 The Score. You can follow Nick on Twitter at @Shep670.